New technology to improve responses to family violence incidents

A new risk assessment and management tool to keep family violence victims safer and hold more perpetrators to account has been launched by Victoria Police this week.

The state-wide launch of the new Family Violence Report (FVR) comes as Victoria Police completes its rollout of mobile technology to frontline police and protective services officers.

Police will now be able complete reports, including the new FVR, in the field as soon as possible after an incident, allowing them to make referrals immediately.

Developed in conjunction with Swinburne University and Forensicare, the tool will provide frontline officers an evidence-based way to assess risk.

Completion of the FVR generates a score that predicts the likelihood of future family violence and severe family violence, and will help determine who should manage the investigation.

Family Violence Command Assistant Commissioner Dean McWhirter said family violence and violence against women was core police work, accounting for approximately 40 to 60 percent of frontline police time.

“In the past 12 months to March this year, police responded to more than 81,000 incidents of family violence,” he said.

“These incidents can be complex and police are often required to make assessments in stressful circumstances to keep people safe.

For more on this story see Page 5 of The Advertiser, Friday, August 16